Automatic or self-playing piano.



R. i. WLCOX.

AUTOMATIC 0R SELF PLAYING PIANO.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, 1914. 1,233,943. Patented July 17', 19W.

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my, /ZeM( R. l. wlLcox. l AUTOMATIC OR SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATLON FILED SEPT. T91 i914. 1,233,943. Patemd July 17, 19147.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. I. WILCOX.

.AUTOMATIC 0R SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED SE-PT. I9, I9I4. I 1,238,943. Patented July 17, 1917.

: l l H llll .IIL

R. I. WILCOX. AUTOMATIC oR.sELF PLAYING PIANO.

` APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Witness Patented July 17, 1917.

RUSSELL I. WIYLCOX, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTQMA'IIC OR SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

Application led September 19, 1914.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RUSSELL I. WILCOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic or Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is aspecification.

rlhis invention relates to automatic or self playing pianos andespecially to that type of such instruments in which the action isoperated pneumatically, in accordance with a perforated music sheet. Theobject of the present invention is primarily to enable any one of aplurality of selections on a music sheet to be played by simply settingan indicator. It is particularly designed for use in coin-controlledpianos installed in public places, but is not limited to such use, beingequally advantageous for house pianos. By means of my invention a verylarge repertoire can be provided for. The several pieces of music areeither per-` forated in series in a single continuous sheet of paper, orseparate music rolls are fastened together so as to constitute onecontinuous roll equal in length to the combined lengths of theindividual rolls or sheets. The mechanism which I have devised operatesto run this roll through in one direction or the other at a rapid rateof speed until the selected piece of music is reached, when the windingmechanism slows down to the proper speed for playing, and stops at theend of the piece. The mechanism may be set, however, so that the musicsheet will be moved at playing speed and the series of selections playedthrough from end to end.

The present invention embodies improvements on the mechanism of myPatent No. 1,110,172, dated Sept. 8, 1914. These 1mprovements relate,more particularly, to the controlling mechanism by which any selectionof the music roll or sheet may be played, such mechanism being adaptedto insure absolute reliability of the selective action at all times sothat when the mechanism is set to play a given one of the variousselections of the music sheet. the playing of that particular selectionis insured without possibility of mistake, whereby the automatic actionof the mechanism inY wind-` Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

serial No. 862,492.

ing and re-winding the music sheet and arranging it for the playing ofthe desired selection is guaranteed.

The present invention also embodies improvements in the provision ofemergency automatic kick-oli and re-wind means which becomes active whenthe music sheet has been wound or unwound, for instance, when the entirerepertoire of selectionshasbeen played 1n rotation, this mechanism beingin the nature of auxiliary means adapted to act as a substitute for thekick-ofi' and re-wind mechanism ordinarily employed when the indiator isset to play a particular selection as such normally-used kick-ofi andre-wind mechanisms are rendered inoperative when the entire repertoireis played.

In the present invention, I may provide a pneumatic means for switchingthe suction from the main or playing wind chest to the auxiliary valvechest used in controlling the automatic mechanism of the presentinvention when the music sheet is rewinding in either direction so thatthe full eiiect of the suction on the controlling valve chest will beobtained as it will not then be needed by the wind chest which controlst ie playing action of the piano.

In the present application, I have shown the mechanism disclosed `in myPatent No. 1,110,172 dated Sept. S, 1914i` to illustrate the cooperationof the present improvements therewith. llVhile the present improvementsenter into operative combinations with the mechanism of my patent abovementioned, they also constitute improvements in themselves and in iisbroadest aspect, therefore, the present invention is not limited to itscombination with the re-wind, kick-ofi and allied mechanisms of mypatent as it is possible that other mechanisms could be substituted torthose ot my patent in carrying` out the present improvements in anoperative automatic piano player.

rlie embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings andhereinafter described is to be considered as illustrative, rather thanrestrictive, of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing the complete system;

Fig. 2, a front view of the controller;

Fig. 3, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4, a side elevation ofthe direction valve mechanism;

Fig. 5, a detail face view of the direction valve;

Fig. 6, a similar view of the direction valve disk;

Fig. 7, a view of the inner face of the automatic ratchet disk;

Fig. 8, a similar view of the inner face of the manually controlleddisk;

Figs. 9 and 10, views of the opposite faces of the stationary ordistributing disk of the controller;

Fig. 11, an end elevation of the emergency kickbff mechanism;

Fig. 12, a front view of a modified controller;

Fig. 13, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 14, a view of a section of a music sheet, showing the controllingslots or openings, and

Fig. 15, a cross section of the assembled controlling device of Figs. 7to 10.

Machines of this kind are now usually driven by an electric motor, whosestarting is effected by dropping a coin into a suitable receptacle. Asthis is well understood, and as the specific mechanism to be employedfor this purpose forms no part of my invention, I have omitted it fromthe drawings. It will be assumed, however, that some form Y ofcoin-controlled actuating motor is connected to the upright shaft 1, onwhich are secured the two bevel gears 2, 3, meshing respectively withsimilar gears 4, 5, on the parallel horizontal shafts 6, 7 and rotatingthem in opposite directions. By means of suitable clutches these lastmentioned shafts can be coupled to the spindles of two winding drums 8,9, though not to both at the same time. The multiple music sheet abovementioned is wound on these .two drums, and by throwing in one or theother of the clutches this sheet can be wound forward or backward as thecase may be until the desired piece of music is reached.

Interposed between the spindles of the drums and the shafts 6, 7, arechuck shafts 10, 11, which are journaled in the outer ends of brackets12, 13, projecting from the upright frame 14 in which the drums arecarried. The chuck shafts extend through this frame and carry chucks 15,16 in which are engaged the ends of the spindles of the drums 8 and 9. Aknurled rim 16 on each chuck enables the drums to be turned by hand whendesired.

The preferred form of clutch which I employ to connect the drivingshafts 6, 7 with the chuck shafts 10, 11, is shown in Fig. 1.

Rigidly. secured on each driving shaft is a hub 17 The one on shaft 6has a flange 18 for a purpose hereinafter described. In

this hub are twoy or more longitudinal holes through which slide pins 19which are riveted' to a collar 20 which is vfree to slide on the shaft.The outer end of the chuck shaft enters a central hole in the hub 17 andis journaled therein. A collar 21 is secured to the chuck shaft and isprovided with lugs 22 on the side toward the hub 17. When the collar 20is slid to the left (in Fig. 1) the pins interlock with the lugs andcause the rotation of the driving shaft to be imparted to the chuckshaft. The two clutch collars 20 are circumferentially grooved at 20 toreceive trunnions in the forked ends of a T-shaped clutch lever 23 whichis pivoted at 24 at the end of a guide rod 25 projecting from the frame14'.V Tension springs 26 are attached at vone end tothe guide rod and atthe other to an arm 23a which is pivoted at 23b to lever 23 and has itsrocker end 23C entering the slotted end 25a of guide rod 25. When bothclutchesare out of engagement with the floating shafts, the clutch leverstands in its mid position, and the springs lie in the same plane as thepivot, so that they eXert no tendency to move the lever. In order tothrow the tail 23 of the clutch lever up or down and thus let in oneclutch or the other, two bellows 27, 23, are provided, each having afinger 29 arranged to strike the end of the tail 23 when said bellows iscollapsed, and tilt the clutch lever olf its dead center so that thesprings 26 can pull it over sharply, slide the clutch in quickly andretain the clutch in its position due to the use of the arm 23a. Thepneumatic conrol of these two bellows will be described ater.

The clutch lever is returned to its mid position at the proper time bymeans of a kick-off frame 30 which slides on the guide rod 25 and hastwo arms in each of which is a set screw 31 adapted to bear against theleft hand side of the `!"'head of the clutch lever and force it back toits central position. The .kick-olf frame is itself urged toward theright by a spring 32, but it is positively moved, also, in thatdirection by a bellows 33 which lhas a finger 34 arranged to co- Vto itsmid position.

This action takes place at the end of the rapid winding of the musicsheet from one drum to the other, and at the instant that the selectedpiece of music has been reached. Thereafter the drums are to be drivenat the slew speed required for playing, and the Y p 40 splined on thechuck shaft 11 mechanism for accomplishing this will noW be described..At the left hand end of the kick-off frame 30 is a depending arm 39Whose lower end is forked to engage a clutch and coperating with asimilar clutch face on a Worm gear 41 which is mounted to rotate looselyon the chuck shaft 11. Meshing with this gear is a Worm 42 secured on anupright shaft 43 Whose lower end is journaled in a bearing at the end ofa bracket 44 bolted to the frame 14. The upper end of said shaft isjournaled in a bearing in a block 45 which is sleeved on the upper chuckshaft 10 and is urged toward the right by a light Spring 45" coiled onsaid shaft. The object of this spring is to keep a leatheror rubbertireddisk 46 on the playing shaft 43 in close contact with the driving iiange1S on the hub 17 Which is fixed on the upper driving shaft 6 by a setscrew 47. These two friction gears thus impart constant rotation to theplaying' shaft 43 and the Worm gear 41 and its clutch pins. Now When thekick-off frame is forced to the right by the bellows 33. its, arm 39Will throvvl in the clutch 40 and therefore cause the playing shaft tobegin to drive the take-up drum 9.

At this point attention may be called to the rod 48 extending from thearm 39 thro-ugh the frame 14 and provided With a cam 49 pivoted to itsend. rlhe purpose of this is to enable the operator to draw the kick-offframe to the left and lock it there when Vit is desired to unclutch thedrums so that they can be turned by hand by the knurled rims 16.

The speed regulator, by means of Which the take-up drum is caused toWind up the music sheet at an even rate of speed regardless of theincreasing diameter of the roll, comprises means for shifting the disk46 radially over the surface of the driving flange 18, so as to vary thespeed of rotation of the playing shaft 43. This mechanism consistspreferably of a Worm 50 on the chuck shaft 11 actuating a Worm gear 51on an upright feed screws7 52 Whose threads engage With a tapped hole inone end of a carrier 53 consisting of a bar secured to the top of aslide rod 54 which is mounted to `move vertically in bearings 55. Theother end of the carrier bar is forked to engage with a groove in thehub of the disk 46, so that as the carrier rises and falls it Will shiftthe disk radially over the surface of the driving flange 1S. When apiece of music is being played, the operation of these parts is to shiftthe disk 46 toward the center of the driving flange, so as to graduallyslow doivn the speed of the take up drum as the diameter of the rollincreases. `When the end of the sheet is reached, and the upper clutchis thrown in to re-Wind the sheet on the upper drinn, the reversemovement of the lower drum and the shaft 11 brings back the carrier 53and the disk 46 to their loyvest positions.

Hand regulation of the speed regulator is rendered possible by pinningthe flanged collar 51a to the spindle 52 and pressing the Worm gear 51against said collar by a spring and collar 52, 52D. A hand knob 52` faston spindle 52, may be turned by hand While gear 51 remains stationaryand in mesh with Worm 50. 1 provide an automatic stop for the speedregulator consisting of collars 53a and 531 which are fastened tospindle 52 and have inwardly extending lugs. A pin 53c is secured toyoke Then yoke is screwed down far enough or up far enough the lugs on53a or 53", as the case may be, engage pin 53Q and prevent furtherturning of spindle 52, although gear 51 may continue to turn. The actionof this regulator insures uniform tempo for all the selections on themusic roll, regardless of the size or continuing variation in diameterof the bottom take up roll and also permits of a. general regulation byhand.

Parts of the foregoing mechanism are set forth in my Patent No.1,110,172 and constitute no part of the present invention except so faras they enter into operative combinations with my present improvementsand are different from such earlier disclosures.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7, S, 9, 10 disclose the improved selective controllingmechanism by Which the operator can determine which of the variousmusical selections of the music roll Will be played. The control iseffected through the operation and relative positions of ratchet disk A,stationary distributing disk B and selective disk C. rlhe disk B may bestationarily held or supported in any manner, as for instance, by astandard 310. Extending loosely through the disks A and B is a spindle100 which is suitably mounted and carries a pointer 100a andmanipulating finger-piece 1001, these being suitably positioned inconvenient location outside the piano front, and the pointer 100"L beingarranged to play over a dial or scale 100C bearing as many numbers ordierent indicia as there are selections on the continuous music sheet orroll X, F ig. 14. Neutral points may also be indicated before and afterthe series of numbers to show Where the pointer 100L may be turned to soposition the mechanism that, instead of any given selection beingplayed, the entire series of selections of the music sheet will beplayed in rotation.

The disk C is adapted to turn With the spindle 100 and is connectedthereto by a pin-and-slotconnection 250, whereby a spring 270 interposedbetween a collar 280 xed on the spindle 100 and the said disk C, Willhold the disks A, B and C in proper contact, face to face to prevent airleakage. The spindle 100 has a collar 290 against which the rear face ofdisk A bears to form an abutment. To insure retention of the selectivedisk C where positioned by manipulation of the linger-piece 100", thereis provided on spindle 100 a star ratchet wheel 580 with which theroller of a pivoted ratchet 570 is made to engage by a spring 590.

The disk B remains stationary at all times; the disk C is manipulated byturning the finger-piece 1001; the ratchet disk A is subject toautomatic turning step by step, in one direction or the other, tocontrol the winding and re-winding of the music sheet X, Fig. 14 by theaction of the small suction bellows D and E, one of which turns theratchet disk in one direction and the other turns it in the oppositedirection through the medium of the pawls 600 and 610, respectively,connected to the bellows D, E, and provided with springs which tend tothrow them into engagement with the pins i A of the ratchet wheel A.Steadying dogs 550 and 560 may be provided, operated by the pawls 600,610, to take into the spaces between the pins A and prevent overthrow or.back throw of the ratchet disk A when itis turned.

Thev disk B is provided on opposite faces withV small circular channelsor ports 110 and 110s, the former lying next to the inner face of disk Cand the latter next to the inner face of disk A. The face of disk B nextthe disk C is also provided with an annular port or channel 180.Extending clear through the disk B are as many pairs of ports or holes500 as there are selections on the music sheet and as represented by theindicia on the dial 100. The pairs of ports 5700 are arranged in radiiof the disk B and in concentric arcs. lExtending radially inward fromthe periphery ofthe disk B at diametrically opposite points are ports120 and 130 which open out only through that face of the disk B whichlies adjacent the disk A. These ports are in communication by pipes ortubes 140 and 150, respectively, with the valve-chest 720, as hereafterdescribed. A pipe 200 extending through the periphery of disk B connectsthe circular channel or port 110l to the kick-off trip opening 200 inthe tracker-bar 62. A pipe or tube 190 connected to an opening extendinginto the disk B and connected to the channel 180, places said channel180 incommunication with the re-wind opening 190 in the tracker-bar 62.A pipe or tube 210 connects the channel or port 110 to the valve-chest720 in a manner set forth presently. The disk A is provided with similararc-'shaped Vchannels or portsloO and 170 on itsi-face adjacent the diskB, said ports being adapted to communicate with the innermost of thepairs of openings 500. The ends of the ports 160, 170, are separated bya blank space or the same face as the ports 160, 170, is a port 220which is positioned so that it will be adapted to afford communicationbetween the annular channel 110a and different ones of the outermostpairs of ports 500.

rlhe channels 160, 170, are adapted to remain in communication with theports 120, 130.

The selective disk C by which the playing ofany musical selection on themusic sheet X may be predetermined, is provided on its face next thedisk B with ports 230, 240. The port 230 is disposed so that it placeschannel 110 in communication with any one of the outermost of the ports500. rThe port 240 is arranged so that it places the annular channel 180in communication with any one of the innermost ports 500.

To determine the direction in which the disk A shall be turned by one orthe other of the small bellows D, E, I provide a direction valve (Figs.4, 5, 6) cooperating with the chuck spindle 440 of the bottom take-upVroll 9. A disk 360 is secured -to spindle 440 and frictionally bearsagainst the disk valve 420 which is loose on ,spindle 440. The diskvalve has an arc-shaped port 441. Suitably held,as by a stem 380, is adisk 430 which'is provided withports 431, 432, 433, arrangedv so thatthe channel or port 441 may connect either 431 and 432 or 432 and 433.The

port 431 is connected by a pipe 434V to the valve-chest 720 and the port433 is connectedto said chest by a pipe 435. The intermediate port 432is connected by a pipe 436 to an opening 437 in the left-hand end of thetracker-bar 62. Pins 370 carried by the valve 420 are adapted to permita suflicient -rockable movement of said valve to connect the ports 431and 432 or 432 and 433 before said pins strike the standard 380. Thedirection of rotation of the take-up roll 9 determines which way thevalve 420 will be moved and, consequently, whether ports 431 and 432 areconnected or ports 432 and 433, thus determining which of the bellows D,E, will be operated by the valve-chest. The engagement of the parts 360and 420 being frictional only, the continuance of rotation of the rol-l9 is not interfered with is utilized when the complete music sheet isplayed through from end to end.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 11, the bottom take-up roll 9 is provided withthe concavity 520 whose bottom merges into the surface thereof. Aspring-actuated flap valve 511 (Fig. 11) normally closes communicationwith the atmosphere of the outlet or pipe 530 which joins pipe 210. Atrip 510 is pivotally carried by the valve 511 and is arranged to enterthe concavity 520 when the music sheet is about to completely unwindfrom roll 9, such action pressing open the iiap valve 511 and admittingatmosphere to pipe 530, thereby causing the admission of suction tokick-olf 33 and effecting conditions which bring about re-winding of themusic sheet on the roll 9.

If the music sheet is sufficiently wide to permit the cutting of anotherslot, such slot may be provided and arranged to uncover a hole in thetracker, which, in turn, constitutes the mouth of pipe 530. In suchcase, the emergency valve of Fig. 11 will be entirely dispensed with andthe same result obtained by the uncovering of hole when the sheet hasbeen played through.

To switch the suction into the valve-chest 720 when re-windin g istaking place, so that the full effect thereof may be exerted on thechest 720 and the suction be cut olf from the playing wind chest, Iprovide a flap valve 521 arranged to be engaged by the lever 37 whensaid lever moves. The valve 521 controls the admission of atmosphere toa. pipe or tube which operates on a diaphragm in a chamber- 524 subjectto the suction in pipe 740. The diaphragm 523 controls a double beatvalve 93 having the valves 92 and 95. Normally the valve 95 is seatedand valve 92 unseated, which places suction pipe 740 in communicationwith the playing chest pipe P because a bleed in the diaphragm 523admits the suction to the under side thereof. When the lever 37 opensthe flap valve 521, the diaphragm 523 moves inwardly and closes valve92, thus voiding the pipe P past valve 95 and causing the full suctionto be exerted through pipe 740 on the suction chamber 730 of valve-chest720.

' When the lever 37 is restored, the parts re- Y which has a bleed 780which permits suiii cient suction to exist under the diaphragm toprevent it being raised by the suction in 730 under normal conditions.Above the chamber 730 are independent chambers 750 which are connected,from right to left of the valve-chest 720 with bellows 28, 27, 33, E andD. These chambers 750 are in coinmunication with the atmosphere throughsmall ports. The admission of suction to the chamber 750 is normally cutoff by valves connected to the respective diaphragms 790 and numbered inorder from right to left of the i. alve-chest as 850, 860, 710, 711,712. These valves are normally seated. It will be clear that whenatmosphere is admitted under any one of the diaphragms 790, thediaphragm will rise and unseat its valve and thereby permit suction toexist in the chamber controlled by the valve. W hen suction has accessto the chamber controlled by the valve, the corresponding bellowscollapses and performs its function.

Referring to Fig. 1-l, the music sheet X is provided at its right-handand left-hand margins between the end of one selection and the beginningof another with re-wind and kick-off slots y, y of about two inches inlength which are arranged to pass over the openings 190, 200 in thetracker-bar 62. Opening 7/ may be on the right hand margin` and y on theleft hand, if preferred.

I provide at the left-hand margin of each musical selection at a pointof about two or three feet from the commencement of each musicalselection, another slot or trip opening m which is adapted to pass overthe opening Other slots 0, O', U may be eut in the margins of the musicsheet for controlling soft and loud effects, mandolin or otherattachments. etc., when they should come in. Slot O4E is provided tocontrol the operation of a suitable pneumatic which in turn, stops theplaying or trips a coin, after a selection has been played.

After the final musical selection, there is provided a singleindependent emergency rewind opening or slot E which is adapted touncover a hole, in the tracker 62, to which is connected pipe E"(Fig. 1) that joins line 150 so that rewind bellows 28 will be operated,to cause rewinding, after all the selections have been played inrotation.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, I have shown a modification of theautomatic ratchet controlling mechanism by the use of which thedirection valve 420, L30 and allied parts, are entirely dispensed with.

In the mechanism of Figs. 12 and 13, a worm 300 is connected by aflexible connection 302 to the spindle of the take-up roll 9. Meshingwith and driven by the worm 300 is a worm-wheel 400 which iscontinuouslyT turned by the worn 300 in one direction or the otheraccording to the direction of rotation of the roll 9. rIhe disks AX., BXand CX similar in all respects to correspondingly lettered diskspreviously described, are carried by the spindle 100 and theirinterrelation controlled by finger-piece 100i). A pointer and dial areused as previously set forth. The ratchet disk AX is not provided withthe pins-A', but it is in frictional engagement" with the face of theworm-wheel 400. The disk AX is provided with a hub 150 on which theworm-wheel 400 is loosely mounted. A spring 130interposed between theworm-wheel 400 and the collar 140.011 the hub 150, holds the worm-wheel400 in frictional cont-act wit-h the disk AX. The disk A is providedwith notches 50 in its periphery thereby constituting it a ratchet wheelwhose rotation by the worm-wheel 400 is permitted or prevented accordingas the tooth 70 of a pawl 60 is disengaged therefrom or received in oneof the notches 50. A light spring 80 tends to throw the tooth 70 againstthe edge of the disk AX and to position it to engage one of the notches50. A bellows 90 connected to the pawl 60 is adapted to retract saidpawl when suction is admitted to said bellows. Y The direction valve420, 430, etc., being` dispensed with when the mechanism of Figs. 12, 13is used, the port 437 of the tracker-bar 62 is connected to the spaceunder a diaphragm like one of the diaphragms 790 and a' valve similar tothe valve 850 is used to control the suction to the bellows 90.Consequently,

when the openings of the music sheet uncover the opening 437, the valveaction is operated and suction is admitted to the bellows 90, whereuponit collapses and the tooth 70 disengages from the notch 50 whichpreviously received it so that the frictional engagement'of the disk Aand worm-wheel 400 results in the disk AX being turned by theworm-wheel, but the tooth 70 enters the next notch 50 and the operationis as hereinafter set forth.

e The notches 50 are spaced apart the same distance as the ports 500 andextend completely around the disk Ac at regularv intervals.

The operation of shifting the clutches by the collapse of the bellows27, 28 and 33 to cause rapid 1re-winding of the music sheet in onedirection or the other or the turning of the lower roll 9 at playingspeed, is the same as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No.814,880.

It will also be understood that the music sheet X contains as manymusical selections as there are numbers on the dial 100C and as manypairs of ports as are included in the Vseries 500.

Referring first to Figs. 1-11, assuming that the music roll is placed inthe machine and the pointer 100a turned to the No. 1 place on the scale100C. The ratchet disk A should also then be turned by hand until theport 22,0 and the bridge 330 register with the first pair of ports 500and the channel 110a as indicated' at 450. The disk C turning with @hepoint-.er we to the i.7 the ports munication between the tracker-barthrough the channel 180, the pipe 190 and the tracker opening 190. Atthe saine time communication to pipe 200 and kick-off opening 200 isopened into channel 110 and through port 230 into the first outside hole500 at the point 450 and through this hole into port 220 in ratchet diskA and thence to the channel 110a and out through pipe 210 to the chamberunder diaphragm 710 in windchest 720. lith the disks A, B and C in therelative position specified, the admission of atmosphere at 200 resultsin the suction in chamber 730 raising or drawing inwardly the diaphragmof valve 710 so that the suction has access to chamber 750 and thence tokick-off bellows 33. The collapse of the bellows 33 causes the kick-offarm 23 to be moved outwardly and the clutches 17 are thereupon placed inposition for playin and as the re-winding operation is out og, theinstrument will play the first or No 1 selection of the music sheet X.

Let it be assumed that the pointer 100a is moved to position No 5 on thedial 100C. Now, when the music sheet X started to wind onto the roll 9,the direction valve 420, Figs. 4 6, was moved so that the port 441bridged the ports 431 and 432, thereby conditioning the direction valveso that when the opening 437 is uncovered by an opening m, the bellows Dwill collapse. Consequently, after the selection No l has been playedpart way through, the opening uncovers the port 437 and the bellows Dthereupon collapses, causing the pawl 600 to engage one of the pins Aand kick the' ratchet disk A to the right one point or to the secondposition'while selection No 1 is being played. With the disk A moved tothe right, as stated, communication with pipe 200 through the kick-offopening 200', is cut off. However, the pointer 100a having been set toNo 5, the port 230 is then at the fth position, but the port 220 and thebridgeBSO .of disk A are only in the second position. Then in thisposition, the kickthe music sheet X at the beginning of selection No 2will open the passage so that bellows 27 will collapse and the roll 9Vwill be rapidly'turned for re-winding the music sheet X at a rapid rate.With the disk C in position for playing Na 5, the port 2&0 will connectthrough the fifth hole, 500, to the semi-circular channel 170 in disk A,because this disk will be three points to the left of the controllingdisk C and channel 170 being at all times in communication with port 120and the pipe 140 which leads to the diaphragm of valve 860 whichcontrols the collapse of bellows 27. Now, if the disk C should be set tothe left of any position occupied by ratchet disk A, it will be observedthat the same port 240 of disk C will connect channel 180 throughwhichever inner hole of the series 500 it happens to register with, withthe semi-circular channel 160, which channel by its registration withoutlet port 130 and pipe 150 leads to the diaphragm 7 8O which controlsvalve S50 and, in turn, controlling the collapse of bellows 28.Consequently, such an operation will cause rewinding of the music sheetX and consequent reverse of the ratchet disk A, until the ports 220 and230 of the disks A and C again register and then upon the arrival of akick-oif opening y in the music sheet, the

bellows 33 will collapse and the mechanism proceed ahead at playingspeed to play the selection. lf the pointer 100a is left on a givennumber as for instance 7 and coins are repeatedly inserted in themachine to control the. motor which drives shaft 1, No 7 will berepeated as many times as there are coins inserted, because, whileplaying the indicated number, the ratchet disk A is kicked ahead onepoint after a small portion of the selection Na 7 has been played andthereupon the reverse re-wind is opened and the kick-off kicked o, andif the magazine contains more than one coin, the coin will be trippedand the music sheet will con* tinue moving ahead a few inches at playingspeed until the re-wind is reached at the beginning of the next piece,and in winding backward, the ratchet will again be kicked back one pointwhich will cut od the rewind and open up the kick-oli1 passage and causethe roll to stop re-winding and repeat the number in question.

It will be understood that bellows E is controlled in the same mannerthat the bellows D is controlled and that the pawl 610 operates to turnthe ratchet disk A backward just as the pawl GOO is adapted to turn itforward.

If the pointer 100a is set at one of the neutral positions 0, theresulting position of the disk C prevents passage of air through theports 230 and 240 and, consequently, neither the kick-olf y nor there-wind y will be brought into action. I have, therefore, provided theemergency kick-off shown in Figs. 1 and 11 which consists of the parts510, 511 and 520. When the pieces have all been played, the emergencyre-wind E acts.

The switching of the suction is accomplished through the opening ofvalve 521 by lever 37 as previously explained.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13 the mechanism set forth dispenses withthe necessi-ty of employing tac direction valve $20, 130, etc., aspreviously explained. lVith a mechanism of this character, when the diskAX is set as shown, and the pointer 100 is at No 1 of the dial 100C,from the previous explanation it will be understood that the valveport-s of the disks A", BX and CX are arranged for playing selectionNd 1. After selection No 1 is about half played, a trip opening uncoversa port like 13T in the tracker and, through the operation at the valvechest 720, the suction is admitted to bellows 90 and the pawl 60retracted, ,releasing the tooth from the notch 50 which previouslyreceived it. A few revolutions of the take-up roll causes the notch No 2of the disk AX to come into line with the tooth 70, whereupon the saidtooth engages notch No 2, thus placing the disk AX at a safe limit aheadof selection Na 1 so that if the pointer 100a is allowed to remain onselection No 1, the disks are now in position to re-wind back toselection Nd 1 and to kick oli the mechanism, and in re-winding backthrough selection Nd 1, the trackerport like port 437, will again beexposed through slot, like slot fc, thereby again collapsing bellows andallowing the tooth 70 to fall into notch Nd 1. It can be seen,therefore, how the disk AX will travel ahead or back for each selectionon the music sheet and will move in the proper direction. Such movementscontrol the relative arrangement of the ports in disks AX. BX and CX andthe operations which follow, in the manner previously set forth.

rEhe emergency kick-off of Fig. 11 and the switching device 92, 95,etc., may be dispensed with. In the mechanism of Figs. 12, 13 only asimple bellows is required. Other modifications may be resorted to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding' drums for windand 're-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable cooperative members jointly controlling the means for operatingsaid drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable todetermine the selection or selections to be played, and the other beingautomatically operated under the control of the music sheet.

2. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable ported cooperating members, pneumatic means whose operation iscontrolled by the relationship of the ports of the coperating membersand which is adapted to control the means for operating said drums, oneof said controlling members being manually settable to determine theselection or selections to be played, and the other member beingpneumatically controlled by the music sheet.

3. In an automatic Piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating` said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable ported cooperating mem-- bers, one of said controlling membersbeing manually settable to determine the selection or selections to beplayed, the other controlling member being adapted for automatic step bystep movement, pneumatic cogtrollingV means for said automatic step bystep movable member which determines the step by step movement thereof,and a pneumatic system controlledby the manually operable andautomatically controlled parts of the selective controller which in turnis controlled by the music sheet and determines the action of theoperating means for the drums aforesaid. v

4. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet fin onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable ported coperating rotatable disks, one of said disks beingadapted to be manually set to determine the selection or selections tobe played, the other disk be- `ing arranged for a step by step rotation,

pneumatic means controlling the step by step rotation of the last-nameddisk, and a pneumatic systemY controlled by the coperative relation ofthe two disks aforesaid and messie selection or selections to be played,and the other being automatically operated under the control of themusic Sheet, and means controlled by one of said drums which de.-

termines the direction of movement of said automatically operativecontrolling member.

6. In an automatic piano, the Combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelyrotatable cooperative members jointly controlling the means foroperating said drums, one of said controlling members being manuallysettable to determine the selection or selections to be played, and theother being automatically operated under the control of the music sheet,and means, including a pneumatic device, which is controlled by therotation of one of said drums to determine the rotation and step by stepmovement of said automatically operated rotary controlling member.

7. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable coperative members jointly controlling the means for Voperatingsaid drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable todetermine the selection or selections to be played, and the other beingautomatically operated under the control of the music sheet, and meanssubject to the joint control of one of the drums and the music sheetwhich determines the direction of movement of said automaticallyoperated controlling member.

8. In an automatic piano, the combination with a perforated music sheethaving a plurality of separate selections arranged one after the other,of winding drums for winding and re-winding said music sheet, means foroperating said drums forward and backward to wind the sheet in onedirection or the other, a selective controller comprising relativelymovable coperative members jointly controlling the means for operatingsaid drums, one of said controlling members being manually settable todetermine the selection or selections to be played, and the other beingautomatically operated under the control of the music sheet, a mov` ablemember adapted to be shifted in one direction or the other to correspondto the direction of rotation of one of said drums and to determine thedirection of movement of the automatically operated member, and apneumatic device controlled by the music sheet and co'peratively relatedto the said movable member which determines a step by step movement ofthe automatically operated controlling member.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for 9. In an automatic piano, thecombination with a perforated music sheet having a plurality of separateselections arranged one after the other, of winding drums for windingand re-winding said music sheet, means for operating the drums forwardand backward to wind the sheet, means for selectively controlling theplaying of any musical selection of the music sheet or all of them inrotation by controlling the action of the drumoperating means aforesaid,and means coperating with one of said drums to reverse thedrum-operating means and cause rewinding of the music sheet when all theselections have been played.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSELL I. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

A. J. EINERMANN, ARTHUR EBERT.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.

